Zhong Shenxiu walked out of Resurrection Square with a smile, sporting the ID "Lord Shenxiu."

After the third beta, Newbie Valley had become a lot more lively, especially the stalls near Er Ha, which were prime real estate. Players fought daily over these golden spots.

At several prominent crossroads, huge notices were posted, drawing crowds of players reminiscent of ancient government proclamations.

Approaching, Zhong Shenxiu overheard the players' buzzing discussions, "Is this for real? The Snow Viewing Tower is colluding with the Immortal Sect? Definitely something shady going on!"

"Protest! These two time-honored guilds are the strongest, and if they merge, the advantage is too great. It's a monopoly!"

"I know... I heard that both Jiang Shang and Mr. Huang were roped in by officials, investigated in real life; it's simply tragic..."

"Careful with your words, or you'll be next on the list."

"Ha, I'm wearing a Human Skin Mask, who could recognize me?"

"No wonder there's been a jump in the sales of facial disguise Cultivation Techniques and Human Skin Masks lately…"

…

Zhong Shenxiu glanced at the notice, indeed issued by the Daxia Alliance. The enormous paper flamboyantly declared the establishment of the alliance and welcomed any law-abiding players to join.

At the same time, the Daxia Alliance would also lead the charge as Da Xia's top guild to tackle several dungeons—namely, the bandit strongholds in Dingzhou that had long resisted players' assaults.

They even took over some menial tasks in Newbie Valley—not competing with players for profit, but more like a property manager, handling overlooked maintenance work and claiming to serve players by building a better Newbie Valley.

It felt rather impressive; they seemed to aim at gradually gaining control of the valley through a slow, unnoticeable process, to achieve a commonly accepted state. By doing so, they would face the least resistance, as if a brain trust was planning behind the scenes.

This, in fact, encroached on the game officials' authority.

Zhong Shenxiu's stance on this was rather indifferent.

After all, he preferred to be a shopkeeper who left things alone, letting players grow freely and discover their paths of rituals and refinement.

"Big God? You're online!"

At this moment, beside the notice board, Luo Xiaoyi, dressed in the Daxia Alliance's uniform—a crimson Martial Artist attire—spotted Zhong Shenxiu, her eyes lighting up as she came over to greet him.

"You've joined the Daxia Alliance with your Alluring City guild," Zhong Shenxiu asked knowingly.

"Yeah, why don't you join too? The benefits are super good," Luo Xiaoyi urged temptingly.

This was also the task Xie Biqi had given her: to assess the game's thirteen hundred players, aiming for everyone to have a profile.

Even if that wasn't achievable, they'd prioritize certain key targets.

Like high-level players, and dangerous individuals with personality and spirit issues.

The former was represented by "Lord Shenxiu" and the latter by "Blood Hand Man Slaughter."

"Oh? What kind of benefits?"

Zhong Shenxiu inquired casually.

"You get paid by the hour, three hundred for each; just for being part of the guild," Luo Xiaoyi explained with a smile, "If you're willing to join in real life too, you can enter the Special Review Bureau with civil servant benefits. Of course, it's not mandatory. You don't have to join in real life, just participate in the in-game guild activities and you'll still get paid. Plus, our guild is really strong, with huge informational advantages, which helps us discover the treasures of this world... I'll let you in on a secret, the guild is planning a big operation soon. First to take down some bandit hideouts, then to uncover a huge treasure!"

Luo Xiaoyi looked around and whispered lower, "I'm only telling you because we're acquaintances... Inside, there might be a Cultivation Technique inheritance for Taoists of the third grade or higher! You saw how the benefits improved for the motherly Taoist after becoming a Mage... And it's said that when one reaches the third grade as a Taoist, they can astrally project and fly swords, just like an immortal..."

"I'm a Taoist too,"

Zhong Shenxiu chuckled lightly and with a misstep, he swiftly departed like a departing wild goose.

Leaving Luo Xiaoyi and the other players gazing at his retreating figure, swallowing hard: "Such a high-level player... at least a Seventh-Grade... Such a big shot must possess extraordinary powers in reality, right?"

…

As Zhong Shenxiu left Newbie Valley, his personal image began to change.

With sword-like brows and starry eyes, his head full of white hair, he had an extraordinary aura, hardly seeming mere mortal...

He was preparing to change his identity and start causing trouble.

"Most of the legacies obtained by players are inferior, I need to scrounge up some better stuff... Although Xuanming Sky has already tripled the speed, it'll take some time for players in reality to grow."

"Once this wave of arrangements is finished, we can directly start the open beta, right?"

...

Qin Mountain County.

This county borders Cangyuan County, yet it is under the influence of another major sect in Dingzhou—the Blood Wolf Sect.

It is said that the founding Sect Master of the Blood Wolf Sect originally came from the White Tiger Sect. Hence, the two great sects share a bond. Moreover, the Blood Wolf Sect's founder was truly a dazzling talent, allowing him to establish his own sect and gain recognition from the White Tiger Sect.

In terms of influence, the Blood Wolf Sect was currently superior to the Tianyuan Sect.

The most famous feature of Qin Mountain County is the Eight Hundred Miles of Qin Mountain.

There are many ancient tombs on this mountain, burying countless nobles, Martial Artists, and Taoists from history. Its true depth is unknown, and it is home to many strange birds and beasts. Even Seventh-Grade Martial Artists cannot venture too deep.

On this day.

At the peak of a mountain within the Eight Hundred Miles of Qin Mountain, an invisible doorway opened, and the vital energy of heaven and earth fluctuated violently.

"Fortune favors Zhong Shenxiu, day and night divided."

Zhong Shenxiu's figure appeared and with a light smile, he waved his hand.

Drops of rich vital energy turned into liquid, falling on the surroundings of the mountain and absorbed by flora and fauna.

Ordinary plants transformed rapidly, becoming legendary treasures like Zhu fruit and Purple Jade Immortal Fruit.

And small creatures like squirrels and foxes became exceptionally intelligent, their eyes seemingly filled with an increased sapience.

Time passed unknown, at the top of the mountaintop, a white column of light suddenly shot into the sky!

This was a classic celestial phenomenon that, even in the depths of the old forests, was spotted by Martial Artists, woodsmen, and herb collectors, quickly becoming the talk of the lands!

...

Newbie Valley.

As the Director of the Special Review Bureau, Shen Mo naturally received a game device, becoming a third-phase game tester.

Upon arriving in Xuanming Sky, he gazed at the brand new world and fell into a long silence.

Then, Xie Biqi approached him, "Director… There's a situation!"

Daxia Alliance Headquarters.

Jiang Shang, Huang Tianyao, Xu Ran, Zhang Xuanyi, and other players were all looking at a large map.

"So, it means… a secret realm has been discovered near Qin Mountain County, possibly left by a First-Grade Master?"

Shen Mo mused, "Do you want to change the plan?"

"A First-Grade legacy is extremely precious, a shortcut to becoming a First-Grade. If achieved, one could control the land of an entire county, like how a senior ancestor in the White Tiger Sect who's rumored to be a First-Grade Martial Artist became the overlord of Dingzhou."

Jiang Shang said, "Though it's risky, I think it's worth a shot."

Most of them were cautious players and hadn't died much before. Now, at worst, dying once meant a few days of rest, not too heavy a cost.

For the chance at a First-Grade opportunity, it was totally worth the risk.

"Of course, we know that this is a battle only Fourth-Grade Martial Artists and above should engage in... Therefore, we'll just hang around the periphery for some benefits, absolutely not venturing too deep."

Huang Tianyao assured.

Shen Mo, hearing the noise outside, suddenly sighed, "I understand, go ahead..."

He also heard clearly that even if he restrained the Daxia Alliance players, out of those thousand-plus unaffiliated players outside, surely many would join in the excitement.

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